Measurement of the coalescence frequency \nin surfactant-stabilized concentrated emulsions

Abstract

\n \nWe produce different oil-in-water concentrated emulsions\nstabilized by surfactants and we follow their kinetic evolution.\nWe get evidence that the size evolution is first determined by\nOstwald ripening and then by coalescence. The crossover between\nthe two regimes occurs at a well-defined droplet diameter that\ncharacterizes the surfactant monolayer. We exploit this general\ntype of evolution to measure the characteristic coalescence\nfrequency in the thin liquid films.\n\n